BOSTON — On the first day of the playoffs, basketball is a secondary concern for the Bulls and the Celtics. Some things are more important.

The tragic news broke on Saturday that Celtics All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas' sister, Chyna, was killed in a car accident. Thomas is with the team, and Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said before Game 1 at TD Garden that Thomas intends to play, although if he changes his mind, his teammates will understand completely.

“He is struggling,” Stevens said. “Obviously it’s tragic circumstances that he and his family are going through right now and our thoughts are first and foremost with all of them. We’ve talked a little bit last night and then again today about as he goes through it and if he feels like he needs to not, then whatever he wants. I think that one of the things that I’ve learned having been through situations in the past is that there’s really no right or wrong answer. It’s...

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